Need input please

[5PYD3R]

Just replace plugs and wires with the kit from BajaRon. Install was really straight forward and easy but I am a little concerned at the color of the old plugs. In the pic, the left one is the front cylinder. I have an 09 Spyder GS that I bought new and it now has 12K miles. Has Two Brothers dual exhaust, PCV with auto tune. Those were both done the first year I had it. Last year I added the JT air filter kit. Any ideas on what I can do to fix this?

 

[wyliec]

Just replace plugs and wires with the kit from BajaRon. Install was really straight forward and easy but I am a little concerned at the color of the old plugs. In the pic, the left one is the front cylinder. I have an 09 Spyder GS that I bought new and it now has 12K miles. Has Two Brothers dual exhaust, PCV with auto tune. Those were both done the first year I had it. Last year I added the JT air filter kit. Any ideas on what I can do to fix this?

What pictures?

 

[5PYD3R]

Cant get it to post for some reason. Never had trouble before. Working on it though

 

[Chupaca]

Not sure..!!

but if you have a fuel controler you may have to work with it. If you never checked the plugs after the original installation it may be have been running this way all along. Difference in colors can also be that the front cylinder runs a tad cooler than the rear one due to air flow. Some controlers require additional or their own o2 sensors though I doubt that would change much. Don't use a controler with my pipe and JT cleaner so can't help there. No pictures so can't tell if the difference is significant...:thumbup:

 

[5PYD3R]

Got it posted. Never had that much trouble before. Had to resize and convert to jpeg.

 

[Yazz]

The stock O2 sensor is at the back of the exhaust pipe after the two pipes have been joined. The O2 sensor is reading a combination of both cylinders output and balancing it out without knowing the specifics of each cylinder. So one can run rich and one lean but it looks good to the computer.

Get the dual O2 sensors for your PCV.

 

[finless]

Just a simple thing to check.

There are 2 vacuum lines that run to the controllers on the throttle body. They are common sources of failures as they deteriorate and can leak. Usually when this happens you get a bad running engine and possibly no codes. Many replace these rubber lines with silicone lines so they do not deteriorate like the stock rubber ones.

I would at least check these as maybe a small leak is causing one cylinder to run lean.

Bob

 

[finless]

FYI about the vacuum lines:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...-had-this-too&highlight=throttle+vacuum+lines


and here for pictures:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...AL-DIED-ON-ME!&p=631866&viewfull=1#post631866


Bob

 

[Bob Denman]

If it was mine; I'd richen the mixture just a little bit... :shocked:

And this is why I'm an advocate of leaving some things well-enough alone...

 

[5PYD3R]

Not sure if it's to early to judge but took it for a short ride and pulled the plugs. Now both are white. Checking the vacuum hoses now.


EDIT: vac hoses look great!

 

[MikeinGA]

Not sure if it's to early to judge but took it for a short ride and pulled the plugs. Now both are white. Checking the vacuum hoses now.


EDIT: vac hoses look great!

The plugs that you replaced looks like the throttle bodies may be out of balance(the throttle are not opening at same time) or a bad fuel injector. I would put a good brand fuel injector cleaner(check how much for 6 gallons) in your gas tank. This just maybe dirty throttle bodies(clean with throttle body cleaner and run it for 500 and check the sparks plugs again. But don't let the plugs get to lean. That's IMHO.

Mike

 

[5PYD3R]

The plugs that you replaced looks like the throttle bodies may be out of balance(the throttle are not opening at same time) or a bad fuel injector. I would put a good brand fuel injector cleaner(check how much for 6 gallons) in your gas tank. This just maybe dirty throttle bodies(clean with throttle body cleaner and run it for 500 and check the sparks plugs again. But don't let the plugs get to lean. That's IMHO.

Mike

Looks to me like they are opening at the same time. I will definitely try the throttle body cleaner/fuel injector cleaner. Thanks!

 

[trikermutha]

try unplugging the PCV and drive for awhile then check the plugs..

If they look good again its the PCV

If not then check for intake or exhaust leaks..

 

[DrewNJ]

Front plug looks very good. Rear plug is pretty rich.
Its not "great", but safe.

Are these 8's or 9's? How many miles on the plugs?

The single channel auto tune does run rich.

Any pics from the front so the ground electrode isn't in the way?

 

[DrewNJ]

Also, take it easy on the thermal paste. A little bit goes a long way. Personally, I only coat the bottom half of the plugs and avoid getting any on the washer.

 

[5PYD3R]

Front plug looks very good. Rear plug is pretty rich.
Its not "great", but safe.

Are these 8's or 9's? How many miles on the plugs?

The single channel auto tune does run rich.

Any pics from the front so the ground electrode isn't in the way?

The front plug is the white one. 8 or 9? It's a 2009 if that's what you're saying. Could take a pic of the front.

 

[DrewNJ]

That white coloring on the ground electrode doesn't mean anything other than showing the plug heat range. Slightly hot but still pretty good. See where the white transitions as it goes around the ground strap? Your ideal position for heat range selection is right on the bend. Yours is a bit further down suggesting a bit hotter but not crazy.

Look at the porcelain for your coloring. Ideally a nice brown/tan haze. Also, more important is looking for a complete ring of dark coloring with some deposits around the round flat edge of the plug just below the threads.

The other plug is pretty rich, dark all over.

Heat range....8's or 9's. Likely 9's if stock plugs.

 

[DrewNJ]

Here's a good pic. Again, look at the flat edge of the plug and as far down the porcelain as possible. You want to see some buildup on the flat metal perimeter and brown porcelain.

Even in this pic the plug they have labeled as "lean" isn't far off. Its missing some color/buildup on the flats ring but the porcelain looks good....maybe slight glazing.....
The plug they have as optimal IMHO looks good on the ring but doesn't have enough time on it to brown up the porcelain.

 

[5PYD3R]

I will grab a pic of the front. I feel like everybody has a different opinion of what is acceptable and average.

 

[DrewNJ]

Here's another good selection...